Last-minute voting guide for Nov. 8: How to vote and what’s on the ballot

Planning on voting in the 2022 midterms but you aren’t yet ready to cast your ballot? 

The 2022 midterm elections will determine who will have control Congress, with Senate and House seats on the ballot.

Governors races are also on the ballot. The gubernatorial races are important even beyond state borders, as governors are increasingly shaping national policy.

What are the midterms, anyway? The midterms are halfway through a president’s four-year term. Although the presidency is not on the ballot, control of the House and Senate will determine if President Joe Biden will be effective in progressing his agenda during the remaining two years.

Looking for answers on how to vote or the top issues in the midterm elections for 2022? This guide is for you. 

Same-day voter registration options and early voting deadlines vary by state. 

Know your rights: Search for your state in this voting rights guide, which includes details such as which states require an ID card. 

giving employees time off to vote.

Vote in time: See what time polls close in my state.

What are we voting on in the 2022 election?

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives and about a third of the Senate will be determined by voters in the midterm elections. Some races are tighter than others. Our guides for the top House races to watch and top Senate races to watch share more.

What are the most important issues in the midterms?

Top issue for voters: The economy

Voters said in July and October that inflation and the economy are the most important issues.

economic factors voters are considering as they contemplate who to vote for – if they even decide to cast their ballot, reporter Sarah Elbeshbishi reports. 

Abortion on the ballot

Voters across the nation this year are being asked to weigh in on a record number of ballot initiatives on abortion rights, reporter Bill Keveney writes.

Ballot questions in California, Michigan and Vermont would bolster abortion rights protections in their state constitutions.

Kentucky’s ballot question would reject any constitutional right to abortion. Montana Born-Alive Infant Protection Act would subject medical providers to fines and prison time if they don’t provide life-saving care to infants, including those “born alive after an abortion.”

Keep reading:Abortion ballot measures in California, Michigan, Vermont, Kentucky and Montana.

Critical race theory, trans rights, LGBTQ issues 

The economy may be the issue weighing most heavily on voters’ minds heading into the Nov. 8 midterm elections, but the culture wars are inciting voter angst, too, reporter Michael Collins writes. 

Divisive topics such as abortion, critical race theory and LGBTQ rights are shaping political contests from local school board races to campaigns for governor, state legislature and Congress. 

Who’s running for president in 2024?

While the president’s race isn’t on the ballot in 2022, the midterm elections previews the likely candidates for the 2024 presidential race, reporter David Jackson writes:

Former President Donald Trump is on the campaign trail, as are potential Republican primary challengers Ron DeSantis and Mike Pence – and so is President Joe Biden, who is studying a re-election bid in 2024.

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How much did the 2022 midterms cost?

By the time the election is over, candidates’ and their supporters’ spending could top $9.3 billion, according to nonpartisan watchdog group OpenSecrets, reporter Erin Mansfield writes. 

Who contributed, and where did the money go for midterm campaigns?

More questions on voting?

We’re answering your questions on voting with our reporting.

Some questions answered already:

Is absentee ballot postage paid in Georgia?

All voters who send their absentee ballots through the mail must secure postage to the envelope, USA TODAY reporter Sudiksha Kochi found. Here’s what happens if there’s insufficient postage on your mail-in absentee ballot.

Will you get a ballot with only your registered party in North Carolina?

Voters in the same geographic areas will receive the same ballots in the general election, regardless of political party, Patrick Gannon, a spokesperson for North Carolina State Board of Elections, told USA TODAY reporter Sudiksha Kochi. Keep reading about ballot styles.

Add your own:Do you have questions about the 2022 midterm election? USA TODAY is here to help

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